Beam Camp 2027 Global Public Art Call: $5,000 Award, 30 November Deadline
Beam Center invites artists, architects, engineers, designers, filmmakers and technologists worldwide to imagine the next large collaborative public artwork for Beam Camp in Strafford, New Hampshire. The selected concept will be developed for hands-on construction with young campers in summer 2027.
Eligibility and the brief
Applicants may come from any country and be of any age, including collaborative teams. The winning design should be ambitious and buildable largely on site, making meaningful work for over 100 campers and more than 20 staff across approximately 50 hours. Physical construction is essential; technological or moving-image ideas need a feasible material and participatory plan.
Award, budget and commitment
The selected proposer receives a $5,000 award. An additional fabrication budget of approximately $15,000 belongs to the project and should not be mistaken for an extra personal prize. The designer must be available for meetings every two weeks beginning about six months before completion, and reasonable travel expenses for time at camp may be reimbursed.
PDF proposal and deadline
Prepare a single PDF containing a project title, detailed concept, sketches or renders, and the names, contact details, experience and portfolios/CVs of all collaborators. The deadline is Monday, 30 November 2026 at 11:59 pm Eastern Standard Time (EST). Check the official event page for the currently available submission route and optional Zoom information sessions.
Organiser's record and practical checks
Beam Center runs youth arts-and-making education and has delivered past camp projects such as Theater of Giants (2025) and Welcome Beacon (2023). Its workshops include metal and wood fabrication, textiles, ceramics, a technology lab and audio equipment. Applicants should show how their idea can be safely built together rather than presenting a purely speculative visual.